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Old-Fashioned Christmas Ideas: Decorate with Nature

I feel kinda silly making this post because at the moment decorating with nature is trendy. However, it is a very “old-fashioned” thing to do. This Christmas season we are trying to be more intentional about having an “Old-Fashioned Christmas.” In the older days, people didn’t deck their homes up with beautiful sparkly lights and the latest style of fancy ribbon and accessories. Instead, they used what they had around them and got creative. Decorating with nature is a fun, simple way to make Christmas a little bit more old-fashioned and add simple touches of nature all-around your home.

Decorating with nature is also gets you out in nature, adds wonderful scents around the house, and is very affordable because most things are free. And if you are like me, and just can’t decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving, this is a wonderful way to decorate for winter beforehand. And if that is not enough, you can keep pine bows out all winter.

Here is what I did this year.

Gather Nature Items (Pine bows of all types, Pine cones, berries, nuts, sticks, berries, etc.)

Pine bows- find all different types of pines and spruces. Mix the different types of pines together to add dimensions and different textures for an update on the look. I found that balsam bows did last the longest. After 3 weeks with my pine bows being cut, some of the branches did start to look a little yellow. Good thing everything I found was in my yard and I can easily update it.

I also found pine cones, sticks, and dried hydrangea flowers. Whatever looked interesting and was not going to make a mess all over the house.

If you purchase a real Christmas tree, you can use the scraps that you have on the bottom for easy decorating too. No need to go out and gather unless you want different types of pine.

Find things in your Home to Decorate

This was my favorite part! Taking regular home decor items and adding a special winter touch to them by putting pine bows inside. If you have any artificial berry branches or white sparkly floral filler that can be added for a simple pop of color.

This antique teapot became one of my favorite winter decorations this year. It is so simple and yet fits our rustic, country-style well.

Some of the things I decorated for Christmas/Winter

• Crock
• Teapots
• bowels
• candy dishes
• Fireplace mantel
• on top of cupboards
• bookshelves
• tin popcorn containers
• baskets

All that green can be a little plain sometimes. To break up the colors in a large container, like a crock, add a few stems of artificial or ribbon. I added artificial berry stems in red, white, and silver to some of the decorations that I did.  Now, don’t go breaking the bank for this. You can find inexpensive ones at the dollar store or on sale at a craft store. The great thing about them is that if you can reuse them every year. I have been storing (hoarding) a tote of wreath making supplies for years now and had these red and silver berry stems on hand. It was nice to pull them out and use them.

Be creative and use what you have!

Tip for keeping the sticky sap contained

I didn’t want sap to get in the inside of all my antiques and decorations, so I put a paper towel on the inside of the containers. This did nothing for keeping the pine bow hydrated. But, I also did not want to rust my antiques. Like I mentioned above if the branches start to look yellow or dull you can always add freshly cut bows to get you through the winter.

Add Touches of Pine Throughout Your House

It’s the simplest things that are truly beautiful, in my opinion. In my earlier years, I did not think this way. I wanted everything to be themed and put in order. Now I have learned that the unique items and little touches throughout your house are what is really important. Those things tell stories and hold memories.

I really struggled to get good lighting the day I took these pictures. Sorry folks! But, I wanted to share what I did. There are no curtains in my kitchen and I had a few extra dried oranges to make a garland. So, I decided to find a nice stick outside (actually it was my son’s walking stick which I promised to give back) and set it across the top of my two cabinets. I then put pine bows across it and draped a small strand of homemade Popcorn Garland with Dried Oranges & Cranberries across it.

Decorate Outside too

This is SO easy and will keep your yard looking festive all winter.

I am not a great decorator, but I did work at a floral shop for a few months (not sure if that really gives me credibility because I worked in the greenhouse more than the floral shop). But,  I did learn some floral design 101 tips, such as putting tall branches in the back and shorter ones in the front. Make it look full and add some unique filler items to catch your eye. This may be common sense stuff that everyone knows but I wanted to add it.

It’s the simple things that really matter. Those small touches.

Here is another pot I decorated. This time I added a few stems of artificial berries and pinecones. I took all these pictures on the same day. Little did I know that I was going to get dumped on by snow in the middle of it.

You don’t have to break the bank or double your electric bill to have a fun festive Christmas, use what you have and decorate with nature. Nor, do you have to be a good decorator period. This does not have to be perfect. Just make it festive and have fun.

I have really been enjoying sharing some simple ways to have an Old-Fashioned Christmas.

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More of our Old-Fashioned Christmas Ideas:

Plan and Celebrate an Old-Fashioned Christmas (Free Planning Sheet)
Throw a Christmas Decorating Party
Make Your Own Old Fashioned Popcorn Christmas Garland with Dried Oranges & Cranberries
Rosettes- A Scandinavian Cookie Tradition

Other ideas I am hoping to add here in the next few days: Christmas Caroling and a list of Homemade Christmas Gifts anyone can do.

Our family loves Kiwi Co Subscription boxes! Read My Honest Review of them here and get $10 off your first-month subscription here!

We’d love to have you follow along with us on our Old-Fashioned Christmas! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I have been adding A LOT of ideas from Pinterest here and hope to squeeze a few cute projects in this season. Looking for some gift ideas? Check out our Gift Guides.

-Lindsay from Life on Misty Acres

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